Three of the E category LHQ variables were significantly correlated with the 

 criterion. These were hometown size, family size, and clothing quality. As 

 in SEALAB II, aquanauts from small towns showed higher performance (see Radloff 

 and Helmreich, 1968, for a discussion of this variable). Those from smaller 

 families also achieved more marine science, perhaps indicating more parental 

 stimulation of children in smaller nuclear families. The negative relationship 

 between clothing quality in childhood and the criterion may be a reflection of 

 higher motivation among those who have achieved professional status from lower 

 social origins. 



Three of the _I LHQ variables also correlated significantly with total marine 

 science. They were: academic performance, religious activity, and financial 

 independence. The academic performance variable (showing higher scientific 

 achievement as a function of superior school performance during youth) paral- 

 lels the correlation between IQ and the criterion. Because this variable is 

 highly objective and strongly related to the criterion, a more detailed analyses 

 was conducted using additional variables defined for specific age ranges. Corre- 

 lations between academic performance during elementary school (ages 6-12) , 

 junior high school (ages 13-15), and high school (ages 16-18) and the criterion 

 were computed. The positive relationship between scholastic achievement and the 

 criterion was strong for elementary school, weaker in junior high school, and 

 very small during high school. The mechanisms responsible for this are still 

 unclear. What is clear is that a total response such as academic performance 

 overall may obscure more crucial predictors. In the example at hand, high 

 school performance does not discriminate, while grade school achievement does. 

 This suggests that patterns of responses and responses at different ages need 

 careful investigation and that the LHQ uniquely provides the necessary informa- 

 tion. 



The negative relationship between youthful religious activity and performance 

 is also parallel to that between adult behavior and the criterion. It implies 

 that families with less religious orientation foster more scientific motivation 

 in their offspring. The significance of this variable will have to be investi- 

 gated in additional research. 



The positive relationship between financial independence and the criterion sup- 

 ports an hypothesis that those achieving autonomy early are most likely to be 

 highly productive adults. 



The Change LHQ variable defining variations in clothing quality during childhood 

 correlated significantly with the criterion, but negatively, indicating that 

 changes in family social status during childhood may have an adverse effect on 

 later performance. Considering this variable in contrast with the previously 

 noted finding that lower social status (as reflected in poorer clothing) is a 

 positive predictor of performance, the complexities of demographic interpreta- 

 tion and prediction become evident. A testable hypothesis is that those who 

 become effective adult scientists tend to originate in lower socio-economic 

 strata and to come from families which are not socially mobile. In other words, 

 coming from a lower class family may have a positive influence on performance 

 but not if the family is upwardly mobile. This is pure speculation, but it is 

 an exanple of the type of hypothesis which can be tested using data derived 

 from the LHQ. 



VIII -53 



